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I didn't mind working for Bridge, they were a real gettin outfit and you had to keep your head up as there was always something going on but I got on well with them. The AWS, guy named Dave Black was down there on occasion as this was in their backyard, kind of new to South Florida so they had some interest in the welding. They took some of the pics from some of my joints, we had been doing it month on end and were just tuned and fluent, very loose and comfy and they were shooting un real clarity. Work was pitiful in Pittsburgh at the time I guess, actually all over and Bridge had a bunch of cronies down on the job. The avg welder there was well,,, suspect at best and when it got to the ******** it followed a schedule so they cherry pick the gang to go up top.

Yeah, I've been doing mainly curtain wall for the last 10 years or so. Haven't had much dealings with AB, if any. I tend to stay in the NY metro area, usually enough work to go around. Worked the Architectural end (bronze, ss, alum.- canopies, railings, revolving doors, etc.) before getting into this end, also worked a little miscellaneous iron. Not much on the structural end, though. Fortunate enough to have a few "landmark" jobs in the resume- Museum of Modern Art, Hearst Building, working at the new Yankee Stadium now (back to architectural work).
Know what you mean about the engineers! Don't you just love it when they tell you how to do something?! It's like,"I don't tell you how to press the buttons on your calculator, and we can debate this all day, or you can shut the **** up and let me get this piece up!"

plate welding

dual shield (er71 with 75/25 gas) works real well for multiple pass stringers however out in the field 70xx rod is still the sinceble choice for me.. core shield 8 from Esab is nice but it doenst like primed steel such as bar joists and trusses.

trailblazer 280 nt with 3000 hrs and running strong
today I bought a new trailblazer 302
and a new s-32p

Your right sorry about that. Regarding 1/2 to 1" plate work. Years ago I was strictly doing arc welding on plate, but don't know what process is used know. I'm told arc welding is just about dead, by the welding store sales reps.

I agree with Griff. If the sales rep is stating that arc welding is on its way out, he is either a retard or a jackass for trying to sell someone on a certain type of machine. If stick welding is out, the underwater welders are screwed. As far as I am aware, there is no such thing as a waterproof Ln25; I could be wrong. Sales reps are exactly that, sales representatives; their job is to make sales. We run both smaw and fcaw processes in the field. Both have their advantages.

Hey Guys,
I was reading an article on this website which compared stick to flux core MIG (I believe it was on pipe). The point of the article was that MIG was more economical than stick (no wasted electrodes which they claimed added up to huge savings). In addition,the time saved was considerable when comparing flux core MIG to stick. Could this be what the salesman was refering to?
Nick

Good point. I think most people here understand that wire is a faster, more efficient process, but to go as far as to say stick welding is almost no more; thats just incorrect. There will always be a need for down and dirty stick welds whether its repairing derricks on an oil platform or welding corrals in Texas. I could be wrong about the majority but most welders I know stick to what works. Not to say there is no room for ln25's and other suitcase welders; believe me we run them hard on structural and marine jobs.

Could look at it from the Sales Rep point of view. He sells machines and can't remember the last time he sold a stick machine. Lately all have been MIG. So to him it may appear that stick is on the way out. And says that off hand based purely on his sales experience. I like my LWS rep. He has been in the business 27 years. Going to retire next year. OH GOD Jerry, you can't let me break in another one!